PHYS 2020

Lab 4: Prelab

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These questions should be submitted online AND you need to print out a copy to turn in to your TA. Thanks!

PRELAB QUESTIONS: (to be turned in upon arriving at lab)

First, some reflections: Think back on Lab 3 (Electric Voltages), the one with the voltmeter, battery, and water...

Q1: Before doing Lab 3 last week, how well did you feel that you understood electric potentials? Why?

Q2: After doing Lab 3 last week, how well did you feel that you understood electric potentials? Why?

Q3: How would you now explain electric potential to a classmate who didn't understand it and hadn't done the lab?

Q4. I thought lab 3 last week was __________ ENJOYABLE for a physics lab.

very
pretty
somewhat
barely
not at all

And now - onto the new lab

1. Read the lab thoroughly.

2. Familiarize yourself with Course Lecture Notes for the start of Chapter 18

3. Thought experiment: Can you make a light bulb light using only a SINGLE light bulb, a SINGLE battery, and a SINGLE wire? If so, describe it in the space below or draw the diagram or picture by hand on the sheet you turn in.

4. Suppose you have a simple circuit with one ohmic resistor, one battery, and wires connecting them. You are given the value of the resistance (R), the current (I), and the voltage (V). Keep the resistance the same, but double the voltage.

How large is the current now?

I 2I I/2 4I I/4
(not answered)

5. Make a sketch which shows your best guess at what we might mean to "show two resistors in series" and make another sketch which shows what you think we mean by "two resistors in parallel". Draw the diagram by hand on the sheet you turn in.


Thanks for your time and efforts!

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